Tinker, Thaler, Soldier, Spy: Behavioral Economics of HUMINT Transactions and Source Prioritizations

Article

Phillips, Peter J. and Pohl, Gabriela. 2021. "Tinker, Thaler, Soldier, Spy: Behavioral Economics of HUMINT Transactions and Source Prioritizations." International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. 34 (1), pp. 17-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/08850607.2020.1747830
Article Title

Tinker, Thaler, Soldier, Spy: Behavioral Economics of HUMINT Transactions and Source Prioritizations

ERA Journal ID36255
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPhillips, Peter J. (Author) and Pohl, Gabriela (Author)
Journal TitleInternational Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence
Journal Citation34 (1), pp. 17-44
Number of Pages28
Year2021
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN0885-0607
1521-0561
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/08850607.2020.1747830
Web Address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08850607.2020.1747830
Abstract

Behavioral economics or ‘economics and psychology’ is an attempt to extend the explanatory power of economics by developing economic theory on more plausible psychological foundations. Most of its findings and applications pertain to decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty. There are two parts of the intelligence process to which an understanding of behavioral economics may be relevant: (1) the transactions and exchanges involved in agent recruitment and agent running; and (2) the task of prioritizing HUMINT sources for interrogation. More generally, any prioritization task involving ranking or ordering is shaped systematically by the human decision-making process.

KeywordsBehavioural Economics, Espionage, Intelligence, HUMINT, Agent Running, Decision Theory, CounterIntelligence
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520402. Decision making
440804. Defence studies
380199. Applied economics not elsewhere classified
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Commerce
School of Humanities and Communication
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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